Railroad-crossing signal



Dec. 18, 19.23.

' 1,477,697 R. J. DOUGHERTY RAILROAD cRossING SIGNAL Filed Aug' 24 1925 2 sheets-she l ROBERT J. DOUG-HEBTY, OF CANTON, ILLNOIS.

RAILROADeCROSSING SIGNAL.

Application filed August 24, 1923.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that l, ROBERT J. DOUGHERTY, citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Fulton and State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Crossing Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in railway crossing signals and the primary object of' the invention is to provide a device of this kind which embraces the desired qualities Vof simplicity, durability and efficiency.

A further object of the invention is to provide a railway crossing signal of such a nature that t ie same may be operated from a railroad station with facility and ease, and wherein pivoted signal arms may be provided at a plurality of road crossings and operated from a single station simultaneously.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood and the same consists in the novel form, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing a railway station equipped with a crossing signal constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view in side elevation, showing the lever for operating the signal arms and adjacent parts.

Figure 3 is an edge view of the device shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevational View of one of the signal arms and adjacent parts.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is an edge elevational view of one of the guide pulleys employed.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, 5 indicates a railroad station or tower house at one side of which is mounted a plurality of posts or uprights 6, certain of said posts being mounted at opposite sides of the crossing indicated at 7. The posts 6 thus extend along the railroad tracks and each of the same carries a pair of superposed guides Serialv No. 659,040.

at its upper end as at S and which guides are preferably of the forni shown in Figure 6, wherein they are shown as pulleys mounted within a casing 9 bolted to the post and preventing disengagement of the wire or cable 10 therefrom.

rllhe cable 10 is attached to the periphery of a drum 11 that is mounted upon a stand 12 within the station 5 and one strand passes over the upper pulleys Sa and guides 8 and around a relatively large guide pulley 13 mounted on the post farthest from the station. The return strand or lower strand of the cable then passes over the lower guides 8 under the pulley Sl back to the drum 11.

Extending between and connecting the posts at opposite sides of each crossing is a support la that is preferably in the nature of a cable suitably placed under tension and this cable passes through an opening in a pivot bolt 15 of the adjacent signal arm 16 as shown in ligure 5, the bolt 15 having a jainb nut 21 threaded thereon for securing the bolt 15 against movement on said cable lil. rhis signal arm may be of any desired form but is preferably of a red color and provided with the word Stop as indicated at 17. The signal arm 16 has a relatively short upper end portion 18 that is attached as at 19 to the upper strand of the cable or wire 10, and the longer lower arm of the signal is adapted to assume a vertical position when operative.

Rigid with the drum 1 1 is a hand lever 2() by means of which said drinn may be rotated, and it will thus be seen that when the lever 20 is swung in one direction, a pull is exerted upon the upper strand of the cable or wire l0 for swinging the signal arm to a vertical position so as to give a warning to persons attempting to cross the railroad tracks of the approach of a train. 0n the other hand when the lever 2O is swung in the opposite direction, the lower strand of the cable or wire 10 is pulled in one direction for correspondingly moving the upper strand thereof to cause the signal arms to swing to a horizontal raised position for indicating that the crossing is clear, or that no train isabout to approach the crossing.

From the above description, it is apparent that l have provided a very simple, durable and efficient forni of crossing signal capable of being readily operated by a station agent,

and wherein the signal arms are disposed in a conspicuous position when n1 danger position.

Minor changes may be made without de- Y parting from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.'

What I claim as new is:

l. In combination with a series of posts arranged alongside of a railroad trackl and certain ot' which are disposed at opposite sides of a crossing, a station at one side ot which said )este are positioned,A a cable guide carried by the post furthest from the station, a cable passing around said guide and having,l parallel upper and lower Strands extending' parallel-to the track-adjacent the postsn'uides` for said strands carried by said posts, a horizontal support connecting the posts opposite sides ot thecrossina, a signal arml pivoted between its ends tol said support tor vertical swinging' movement and having,- its upper end attached to the upper strand ot sa-idicab'le, and means within the station for selectively operating;` to exert a pull upon either strand of said cable at will.

2. In combination with a series of posts arranged alongside a railroad track and certain ot which are disposed at opposite sides of a crossing, a station at one side oi which A said posts are positioned, a cable guide carried by the pest rurthest from the station, a cable passing around said guide and having parallel upper and lower strands extending parallel to the traclr adjacent the posts, `guides for said strands carried by said posts, a horizontal support connecting the posts at opposite sides of the crossing, a signal arm pivoted between its enc s to said support for vertical swinging movement and having; its upper end attached to the upper strand of said cable` and means within the station `for selectively operating to exert a pull upon either strand of said cableV at will, said hori- Zontal support comprisinga cable under tension and the pivots of said signal army having an aperture through which said cable extends. Y

3. In combination with a series of posts arranged alongside of a railroad track and certain of which are disposed at opposite Sides 01"' a crossing, a station at one side of which said posts areV positioned, a cable guide carried by the post furthest from the station, a cable passing around said guide and having parallel upper and lower strands extending` parallel to the track ad jacent the posts, guides for said strands carried by said posts, ahorizontal support connecting the posts at opposite `sides of the crossing, a single arm pivoted between its ends to said support for vertical swinging` movement and having its upper end attached to the upper strand ot' said cable, and means within the station for selectively operating to exert a pull upon either strand or" said cable at will, said lastnamed means ernbodying a drum within the station mounted lor rotation, and to which the strands oi" said cable are attached, and a hand lever rigid with said drum.

In a railway crossing signal, a signal arm normally occupying; an operative vertical depending' position and having' signal indicia on the lower portion thereof, means for pivotally supporting; said signal arm i'or vertical swinging movement transversely ot and above the crossing', and means operable from a point remote from the crossing' to swingsaid signal arm to or from operas tive position at will. Y

In testimony whereof I aiiixmv signature'.

RBERT J. DOUG-HEBT? 

